Arsenal boss Arteta previews Southampton clash  

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been speaking ahead of the Gunners clash with Southampton at the Emirates on Saturday afternoon. 

Read on to find out what he said as Aaron Ramsdale is welcomed back by Arsenal boss Arteta

on Timber, White and Tomiyasu's fitness:

We had to modify training for a lot of players. We’ve done the same today because of the load that they had, so it’s a decision to make this afternoon, whether to involve them, yes or no. They are close, and Tomiyasu as well is quite close to being involved, so good news.

on Zinchenko and Odegaard's returns:

Alex probably after the international break if everything goes well. He’s progressing really well. Martin is very difficult, I expected still with the boot and a lot of things and he’s working so hard and is feeling good and is pushing it so it’s difficult to give a timeline.

on how big this game is against Southampton:

We know the significance and difficulty of the match. Last week the tough schedule that we have was proven and any opponent can cause you problems. When you think the game is under control, it can get out of your hands immediately, so it was probably a good thing to happen the way it ended up. We know the quality of Southampton and in my opinion, they’re a team who are extremely well-coached. They have a very clear philosophy, and they’ve been very unlucky not to have many more points because there were moments in the games when they were far better than the opponent and in some moments the results got away from them. It will be very tough.

on Russell Martin sticking to his style of play:

I love that kind of behaviour, in the end, you have to do what you feel. He's proven that his philosophy is extremely successful, what he did with Swansea, what he did with Southampton and last year they were 25 games unbeaten. It was a joy to watch that team play, the same with Swansea, and from what I've seen, they deserve much more than what they have already. But this is the Premier League, and the small details are so important to get results.

on Aaron Ramsdale’s return:

I called him straight away when I got the news [of his transfer] and he was really happy. He is a player that we loved a lot, very charismatic and he really put his fingerprints here on the club with the way that he was. It’ll be very good to see him.

on getting his team to feel they can overcome any challenge:

That’s what we are trying to do. We had a really difficult fixture list after the international break, and on top of that a lot of unpredictable things happened in terms of injuries and players not being available but we adapted. We looked forward and we competed really well in all games. For sure, there are aspects that we have to still improve but we are showing a lot of consistency and adaptability in the way that we can play and win games. I think these are all very positive signs but it's very early in the season still.

on why we’re seeing Kai Havertz scoring consistently:

First of all, because he’s so good, because he wants it so much and because he’s surrounded by great players around him. The fact that he’s gone through some difficult moments just made him a better player, and a great person I think.

on what Emirates Stadium means to him:

It’s a huge privilege every time I am sitting there and I'm surrounded by the players, our supporters and being part of that incredible atmosphere. It makes me proud that we have built something really special here that our people feel proud of and that the players enjoy what they do. Hopefully, we can continue to win a lot of matches.

on how important the team talk is:

I don’t think it’s very needed at this level because we know the quality and the opposition that we face every week in the Premier League. They have seen in the last two days what they do, what we have to do against them to earn the right to play and they are very aware that it’s going to be a very tough match.

on whether Russell Martin needs to adapt his style:

Every manager has a choice to do that. What I can tell you is their results, it’s proven, are there. It’s a very clear identity and very clear way of playing and very successful, so it’s up to the manager. What I can say watching and analysing it, is that they are really good and he’s really good.

on whether it is too early to say who is in the title race:

It’s super early, we have just started it. You can feel already the tension in every match, and the importance of every match. We are just in October, so imagine!

on how hard it is to let someone like Ramsdale move on:

It is personally, because I was very grateful for what he did. When we signed there was a lot of noise around him. We helped him to create an environment that he needed because we believed in his potential and he showed it. He won the respect and admiration of all of us. Then the circumstances changed because this is elite sport and that can happen. It was difficult to deal with that situation in a natural way so we decided to part ways and hopefully he is grateful as well.

on how the team has evolved without Odegaard:

We had to be different. The impact that Martin has in everything we do, it was too big to try to replicate it with one player. We tried to do it in a different way, adapting a few things, and using players’ qualities, players that can play in the right position, with the right chemistry around them. Maybe it took a game or two, but then it started to flow a bit better but we have found a way. But we still miss him because he’s one of the most important players for us.

on Saliba and Gabriel’s partnership:

Obviously they are incredibly important for us, but I think the team has built that consistency and the capacity to win matches because the 11 players are so committed in every phase of play. They have the hunger and desire to compete for every ball.

on whether Leicester proved how difficult every game is:

Yes, every three or four days we have an unbelievable test. Three days ago it was Paris, before that it was Leicester – two completely different games, opponents, expectations and ways of playing. We have to adapt to that, try to be ourselves and have the same ambition and determination to win the game.

on Trossard and Havertz playing as a front two in Odegaard's absence:

We have to put players in positions and qualities where they can feel that they are in their strengths, and try to hide our weaknesses as much as possible. Without Martin we have other things we cannot do, but we have a bigger threat in other areas and we have to make the most out of that.

on if it makes us more direct:

In certain games yes, but not just because of Martin, more because of the behaviour of the position.

on if Kai could get 20 goals this season:

He certainly has all the qualities and he certainly has the ambition to do that. In the end, scoring goals sometimes are very small details and a lot of things have to go for you, but he’s got it and his mindset has changed a lot in regards to that. He certainly has ability to do it in my opinion.

on if he’s worried about injuries in the international break:

I prefer not to watch the games! I pray that everybody is going to be fine, because the last one was a really difficult one to handle in many ways.

on if there should be as many international breaks as there are:

It’s been like this for years. We’re not going to change that, it’s part of the duties that they have, all the European teams. South Americans as well, it’s the same thing, but we have to adapt to that and hopefully be healthy.

on if he talks to players about their fitness before playing for their countries:

First of all the player has to be healthy to go to their national teams but all of them, when I spoke to them, want to be part of that and it’s normal. It’s a huge privilege to represent your country. They all want to be involved, they all have their role, they don’t want to lose it and we have to understand that as well.

on how pleasing it is to see Thomas Partey settled in the team:

He’s a massive player for us and he’s shown that week in, week out. He’s started the season really well, really fit. The way he came back post-holiday was probably in the best condition that he’s been, which was really helpful as well. Now he needs to continue to do that. We have managed certain minutes with him in the right way and the team is doing that, and then he’s doing everything he can as well to be in the best physical condition.

on if he’s back to his best now:

It’s about consistency. Obviously when you change certain habits and you want more consistency, things don’t happen overnight. If in two or three weeks it doesn’t happen and you throw in the towel, you’re going to waste the next two or three years of your career. He’s doing everything he can to be in that. I think his work ethic has been better than ever, defensively he’s been really solid and with the ball he had moments. They probably were his most complete performances because he gave us everything that we want from him and he can deliver that.

on if he's playing to earn a new contract:

We play him to find our best version and to be the most competitive team that we can be and try to win every single game.